Atlantic Canada braces for yet another storm

Maritimers still digging out from a storm that blanketed the region Thursday prepared for yet another storm on Saturday that was forecasted to dump 15 to 40 centimetres more wet, heavy snow.

Environment Canada says a low pressure system from the U.S. is to blame for this second storm, which should deliver strong winds and blizzards to parts of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, P.E.I. and Newfoundland and Labrador Saturday night and all day Sunday.

Parts of Nova Scotia were expected get up to 40 centimetres of snow and possible white out conditions, Environment Canada said.

The new storm formed on Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and is expected to intensify as it passes south of Nova Scotia Saturday night and Sunday, the agency said.

“This storm will bring a large swath of heavy snow to Nova Scotia along with blowing snow in strong northerly winds; 20 to 40 centimetres of snow can be expected for most of Mainland Nova Scotia,” Environment Canada said in a weather warning.

In eastern Nova Scotia, snow will turn to rain for several hours on Sunday before changing back to snow. The region could also experience wind gusts of up to 90 km/hour.

Coastal regions can expect higher than normal water levels Sunday morning. Storm surge warnings are in effect over Northern Nova Scotia and the Cape Breton coasts.

The storm may also dump 20 to 30 centimetres of snow and bring strong winds to New Brunswick and the Gulf of St Lawrence. Prince Edward Island, meanwhile, can expect the snow to start Sunday morning and continue throughout the day.

A weather warning is also in effect for parts of eastern Newfoundland from Channel-Port aux Basques to Gros Morne. The region can expect potentially hazardous easterly winds ranging from 100 to 140 km/hour starting Sunday afternoon and continuing into Sunday evening.

This new system comes just two days after another storm Thursday dropped 15 to 20 centimetres of snow on the region.

Many in New Brunswick spent most of Friday shoveling, while in Fredericton, city crews were up all night Thursday clearing streets.

Parts of Nova Scotia were also hit hard, though rain quickly washed away most of the snow that fell in Halifax.

The weather also caused delays at the Greater Moncton International Airport and power outages across the province. At its peak, NB Power reported there were 2,600 customers without power around Grand-Manan, Campobello and St. Stephen.

Meanwhile, in Montreal, the city is still trying to dig out from Thursday’s record-setting snowfall.

Orange “No Parking” signs will be ubiquitous across the city this weekend, as the city attempts to clear off its roads.

According to city officials, it will likely take about seven days to haul away all the snow.

At least 45 centimetres fell on Montreal Thursday, eclipsing the previous one-day recorded high of 43 centimetres set in March 1971, according to Environment Canada.